Iodine is an element that's required for the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. Since the body does not produce iodine on its own, it needs to come from dietary sources—and striking the right balance is key. Inadequate levels or overconsumption of iodine can lead to or worsen thyroid disease, as well as cause other significant health concerns.

The Importance of Iodine

When you consume iodine, it is quickly absorbed and entered into your bloodstream. Your thyroid, which has tiny cells that capture the circulating iodine, takes in and oxidizes it so it can begin to be used to create triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)—thyroid hormones that make their way throughout the body to regulate metabolism and ensure healthy functioning of the heart, brain, and other organs. While the major portion of iodine is concentrated in the thyroid gland, the nonhormonal iodine is found in a variety of body tissues including the mammary glands, the eyes, the gastric mucosa, the cervix, and the salivary glands. Levels of T3 and T4—as well as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is influenced by the two—that are out of normal ranges, can lead to issues such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and the complications related to having an underactive or overactive thyroid.

Supplements (e.g. potassium iodide, sodium iodide, kelp) and iodine-containing herbs, such as bladderwrack, are other sources that can be considered.

Iodine Deficiency

Since iodine is needed to make thyroid hormone, diminished levels can lead to hypothyroidism (low thyroid function). Iodine deficiency is also linked to the development of goiter (thyroid enlargement).

Risk Factors

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that two billion people, including 285 million schoolchildren, are iodine deficient. Among them, iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) affect some 740 million.

• Pregnancy
• A low- or no-salt diet
• An iodine-poor diet high in goitrogenic foods such as soy, cassava, and cruciferous vegetables (e.g. cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower), which may significantly impact your body's ability to utilize any iodine it does get

Some practitioners are almost knee-jerk in their insistence that anyone with a thyroid problem requires iodine supplementation; alternative practitioners may recommend iodine-containing herbs, like kelp or seaweed. This can be particularly risky, in part because iodine supplements can interact with several types of drugs, including anti-thyroid drugs used to treat hyperthyroidism. Taking high doses of iodine with anti-thyroid medications can have an additive effect and could cause hypothyroidism.

Excess Iodine

Given the strong link between iodine and thyroid health, it's reassuring to learn that iodine deficiency is rare in the United States and other developed countries where iodized salt is used. Indeed, as an International Journal of Molecular Sciences study reported in 2014, iodine excess is currently a more frequent occurrence in these places. This, though, is not without concern.

Are You Getting Enough or Too Much?

While iodine can be detected in urine, relying on such a test is not helpful, since 90 percent of the iodine you ingest is quickly expelled. Rather, doctors use thyroid tests to determine if your iodine intake is concerning or not.